Orangatuns-Borneo_wheelbarrow.jpg
Let's go!


GETTING STARTED
  1. Open your envelope and find out what group you belong to.
  2. Sit with your group.
  3. Create a word document that will be your research file and save it in your group's dropbox. You will keep all your research documents in your dropbox folder.
  4. Each of you should fill out your own graphic organiser.



GROUP RESEARCH TASKS

Research task 1.

Look on this world map:







Look at these websites:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borneo
http://www.wwf.org.au/our_work/saving_the_natural_world/forests/palm_oil/
http://www.americanpalmoil.com/facts.html

external image beos_write.pngAnswer these questions and record your answers on the research form in your dropbox.

  • Where is Borneo?
  • Which country governs the biggest part of Borneo?
  • What is palm oil?

Remember to update your graphic organiser!

Research task 2.
Many people are involved in creating palm oil products: the farmers who grow the raw products, the people who make them, the companies that own the factories, the shops that sell them and the people that buy them.

mother_and_child_borneo.png

Look at this website http://www.greenthefilm.com/?cat=49
external image beos_write.pngWrite answers to the following questions on your research form:

  • Which country produces the most palm oil?
  • Write three reasons the food industry prefer palm oil to other fats.
  • Write three industries that use palm oil and what they use it for.

Look at this article: http://kids.mongabay.com/elementary/503.html
external image beos_write.png
Answer the following question in a sentence and record your answer in your research file

  • Palm oil trees are not native to the island of Borneo. What is the main reason the farmers there are growing palm oil trees? (eg: The farmers in Borneo are farming palm oil trees ...)

Remember to update your graphic organiser!


Research task 3.
HOMEWORK TASK
What products do we eat in Australia that are made using palm oil? Go to the supermarket and make a list of six products that include palm oil as an ingredient.

Lorax_quest_game.JPG
Lorax_quest_game.JPG

Visit this site and use the 'forth' arrow to play the Lorax game!
http://www.seussville.com/?section=playground&pgarea=area4#/games



Show your parent/guardian you self assessment rubric and have a chat about how you are going. Do you need help?


Research task 4.
HOMEWORK FOLLOW UPHave a look at these lists and see how many items you found are on them.
http://www.ethical.org.au/guide/browse/guide/?type=26
http://www.orangutans.com.au/Orangutans-Survival-Information/Helping-you-buy-responsibly-Palm-oil-free-alternatives.aspx
external image beos_write.pngAdd 10 more to your list.

Remember to update your graphic organiser!


Research task 5.
What is the connection between this:

green-kitkat.jpg
green-kitkat.jpg

and this:
orangutan.jpg
orangutan.jpg


?You've looked at what the farmers can gain by growing palm oil and why the companies want to use it. But some concerned people are very passionate about changing the way palm oil is farmed in Borneo. They believe the farming of palm oil in Borneo is destroying the environment and because of this, Australia should not be importing palm oil products, and that the palm oil products we do have should be clearly labelled.






Follow the links below and look at the videos and articles:
http://www.orangutans.com.au/Orangutans-Survival-Information/About-Palm-Oil.aspx
Orangutan Fact Sheet: http://assets.panda.org/downloads/orangutan_factsheet2006.pdf

external image beos_write.pngAnswer these questions in sentences and record them in your research file:
  • What effect is palm oil farming having on the native forest in Borneo?
  • What effect is palm oil farming having on the orang-utan population of Borneo?
  • List three threats from humans to the lives of orang-utans.
  • Why do people want to stop Australia from importing palm oil products?

Remember to update your graphic organiser!

Research task 6
Read this report:
http://www.wwf.org.au/our_work/saving_the_natural_world/forests/palm_oil/palm_oil_and_deforestation/

external image beos_write.pngWrite the answer to the following question in your research file:

  • Is there a substitute for palm oil?

Watch this important video:



external image beos_write.pngWrite answers to the following questions in your research file:

  • Is it possible to produce palm oil without damaging the environment?
  • Add to your research on the farmers that grow palm oil from Research task 3. What difference does palm oil make to them?

Remember to update your graphic organiser!


Research task 7.
external image mind-1.jpg

external image beos_write.pngAs a group, make a list of the advantages of palm oil, including the benefits to farmers, manufacturers and health. You may like to do this on large paper or use an online mind map organiser.
Here is the one you have used before
https://bubbl.us/
Now make a list of the disadvantages of current palm oil farming practices and the environmental impact of supporting the importing of palm oil products.

Remember to update your graphic organiser!




THE FORUMIt's time to contribute your group's findings.
Forum task 1.
Together, we will make a comprehensive list of the advantages and disadvantages of palm oil farming in Borneo.

Forum task 2.
What do others think? Your group is going to conduct a survey.


  • Print your survey form (it's in your dropbox).
  • Write two advantages (statements) of palm oil farming in Borneo and two environmental concerns (statements) about palm oil farming in Borneo.
  • Find at least two participants (outside your class) to answer your survey question.
  • Your survey question is: based on this evidence, should Australia continue to import palm oil products?
  • Show (or read aloud) your survey question and four statements to your participants and record their answer on your survey form.

Forum task 3.
When all the survey results are in, we will make a visual representation (a graph) of our results.

Forum task 4.
Update your graphic organiser:



  • Write three more things you have learned from the forum so far.
  • Has your research shown that there are two sides to every issue?

Forum task 5.
Let's have an all-class brainstorm to think up some great solutions to any problems highlighted by our research.

Forum task 6.
Now that you have done your research, it's time to vote on the question:
Should Australia continue to import palm oil products from Borneo?
You will participate in a secret ballot vote organised by your teacher.





TAKE ACTION!
Action task 1.

The votes are in! Discuss with your teacher a creative way to make your recommendation to the Prime Minister. Include your suggestions for an environmentally-friendly solution in your recommendation.

Some of you may choose to make a poster, for example. Others may wish to make a youtube video, or a radio ad, or devise a play! You might like to write an article, or a speech!